Page 30 of Demon's Mate
“Hi, Nico.” Harper smiled as he reached the counter, hoping it looked natural. Nico had asked Harper to call him by his first name rather than Mr. Velázquez, even though he insisted on addressing Harper as mister. It was strange, but Harper went with it.
Nico eyed Harper’s shoulder bag as he set it on the counter. He had light-brown skin and rich brown hair and was at least ten years older than Harper. Maybe it was the age difference or knowing he was sneaking around and lying, but Harper always felt like Nico was going to catch him out and be disappointed in Harper’s deceit.
Nico pulled a battered notebook from under the counter and opened it to a half-filled page before grabbing a penout of the pocket of his well-worn apron. “What have you got for me today?”
“The usuals.” Harper carefully extracted the vials from his bag and lined them up on the counter.
Nico inspected Harper’s potions, making notes in his book. He was as tall as Harper with far more meat on his bones, but Harper didn’t think Nico’s build was why he found the man intimidating. He’d come to realize Nico was frighteningly observant.
“I’ve been selling a lot of the alertness enhancer lately.” Nico picked up one of Harper’s vials and turned it over, watching the potion swirl. “Can you ask your boss to double what he’s been making, at least for the next few weeks?” His lips twitched in a tiny, almost-there smile.
It made Harper’s skin itch. “Sure. I don’t see that being a problem. Do you want the same quantities of everything else?”
Nico studied Harper, seeming to get lost in his thoughts. He blinked. “Yes, that will be fine.”
The hairs on the back of Harper’s neck rose and he had to resist fidgeting. Was Nico getting suspicious of him? If he was, what was he thinking? Harper wasn’t doing anything strange or different today.
“I was wondering if your employer would be interested in expanding the brews he does for me,” Nico continued. “The quality of his potions is always exceptionally high. He clearly has talent.” He paused, almost like he was waiting for a reaction. “More complex potions sell less frequently, but as I’m sure you’re aware, fetch a higher price. If he could do a couple of doses of basic wound healing and nerve pain relief, they’re worth triple the current rate he’s getting for these.” Nico gestured to the vials.
Harper adjusted his glasses. He’d initially avoided makingpotions that sold for higher prices because he didn’t want his coven to get wind that someone in the city was brewing rare concoctions. However, what Nico had asked for wasn’t unique. Nowhere near as complex as the stone memory brew or the magic-suppressing potion Harper was taking.
“Yeah, we can brew those for you.”
Nico raised a brow. “You don’t need to check with your boss before you commit?”
Harper cursed himself for not phrasing it that way. “He makes those potions on occasion for other people, so I’m sure it will be fine. If not, I’ll let you know.”
Nico noted something in his book. “Excellent. I set aside the ingredients for you, along with your usual order.” He pushed two wrapped packages across the counter.
Potion brewing was more than mixing ingredients. The spells to unlock the hidden properties of natural elements took a lot of power, and there was an element of reading the ingredients, a skill that only potion masters seemed to possess.
Not all witches could brew potions successfully, and Harper tried to count himself lucky for having the gift, even if it came from the strong power in his blood, the thing his father had held him captive and tortured him for.
“Perfect.” Harper grabbed the ingredients. “Next time I come in, I’ll bring a list of other potions we can do for you. In case you’re interested in more variety.” Harper hoped so. He couldn’t afford to turn down a chance to safely increase his income.
“Great idea.” Nico put his notebook away and opened the register, pulling out an envelope of cash.
Harper took the offered envelope. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a couple of days to let you know what we can do.”
Nico’s brows quirked oddly. “See you then, Mr. Harper.”
Harper ducked out of the small shop before he could worryabout what Nico was thinking or what that look meant. Everything was fine. These were all good changes to his plan. Improvements. There was no logical reason to worry.
Harper worried anyway. Would he be able to shake the habit soon and be as relaxed everywhere as he was at home? He didn’t like the idea of looking over his shoulder his entire life.
11
ASH
Two days later,Ash found himself sitting on the roof of the building opposite Harper’s apartment. Again. Unsure why he was there.
Lies.
No, it wasn’t a lie. He’d needed to get out of the house and away from the other two. He loved his chosen brothers, but there was a reason he lived alone in the woods. Ash needed space and a quiet place to think, like the roof of a random warehouse in the Banks.
Not so random, though, is it?
Ash ground his teeth, cursing his own mind. No, it wasn’t random, but it still didn’t make sense that he was here, looking into Harper’s apartment window, when he could be anywhere else.
